“Before you choose an attorney, do yourself a big favor and call Rhoads & Rhoads. I’ve worked with dozens of injury lawyers throughout the country and Chris Rhoads and his team are simply one of the best. Excellent attorneys, fantastic people!”

-Client Google review

It’s terrible that someone else’s negligence can cause so much pain and suffering. And yet Breckinridge County, Kentucky residents are injured in accidents every single day. This forces them to live with the reality of living with life-changing problems from their personal injury. From car accidents and nursing home abuse to medical malpractice and wrongful death cases, a tragic accident can change the lives of everyone involved.

Personal injury law protects the rights of accident victims after many different kinds of accidents. To have an attorney review your personal injury case in Kentucky, contact Rhoads & Rhoads for a free consultation. Our law firm has been advocating for and supporting accident victims in Kentucky for over 50 years.

You can trust the Kentucky injury law firm of Rhoads & Rhoads to understand how to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries, financial losses, pain, and suffering.

Contact Rhoads & Rhoads Law Firm today by calling 888-709-9329 if you have been hurt in an accident. We have a proven track record of getting our clients the compensation they deserve after suffering injuries due to someone else’s negligence. Don’t suffer alone.

What Are My Rights as an Injured Victim in Breckinridge County?

Personal injury accident victims in Western Kentucky have rights outlined by the state’s personal injury law code. Choosing the right personal injury lawyers is about finding a legal team that will protect those rights.

Some of your rights as an injured victim in Breckinridge County include:

• You have the right to seek compensation. Kentucky accident victims can pursue damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
• Unlike other states with longer statutes of limitations, victims in Kentucky generally only have one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, with some exceptions. However, when the incident involves a motor vehicle, the statute of limitations is extended to two (2) years or potentially longer than in certain instances. A wrongful death lawsuit, for example, must be filed within one year after the victim’s death, but can be extended to be filed no later than one (1) year from the date the estate is opened, but not to extend two (2) years from date of death.
• Kentucky follows a pure comparative fault system, allowing victims to recover damages even if they were partially at fault.
• As a no-fault insurance state, victims in Kentucky may also seek compensation through their own insurance, for medical expenses or loss wages, regardless of who was at fault.
• Kentucky accident victims have a right to legal representation and can hire an attorney to represent their interests. Their attorneys will guide and support them through personal injury litigation.
• If a settlement cannot be reached during negotiations, victims have the right to present their case at a trial in court.
• Victims have the right to receive fair treatment from insurance companies.
• If injured on the job in Kentucky, victims have the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits. Employment law matters are not necessarily the same as personal injury law, but a personal injury lawyer can ensure that all of your rights are protected, including your right to workers’ compensation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Personal Injury Accident

Avoiding the following common mistakes will help victims maximize their personal injury claims. Rest assured, if you have made any or even all of these mistakes, that doesn’t mean that your personal injury case is over. A personal injury attorney can still work with you to ensure your claim is as strong as possible.

These are the mistakes to avoid after a personal injury accident:

• Not documenting the incident, which includes failing to record details of how, when, and where the injury occurred.
• Ignoring safety procedures by not reporting the incident to relevant authorities (e.g., car accidents to the police, dog bite attacks to the local health department, and workplace injuries to employers).
• Delaying medical treatment can worsen your injuries and weaken your claim.
• Not following medical advice, such as failing to attend follow-up appointments or complete prescribed treatments.
• Handling the claim alone. Especially for serious injuries, not seeking legal advice from an experienced Kentucky attorney can be detrimental.
• Giving recorded statements such as speaking to the other party’s insurance company or attorney without legal counsel. This can jeopardize your claim by giving ammunition to the other parties.
• Signing documents without understanding them. Agreeing to settlements or waivers without fully comprehending the terms.
• Not keeping your medical records, as well as failing to document medical treatment, ongoing symptoms, and the impact of your injuries on your daily life can limit your compensation.
• Overlooking non-economic damages by focusing only on medical bills and lost wages, thus ignoring pain and suffering.
• Assuming all personal injury cases go to trial; Many can be settled out of court, but people might not explore this option.
• Not considering all potentially liable parties and failing to identify all parties who may be responsible for the injury leads to unobtained compensation.

An attorney can help you know what to do if you have made any of these mistakes. Working with a Kentucky attorney can also help you avoid several of these errors. To maximize your potential settlement amount, your attorney will guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit, negotiating with insurance providers, and preparing a case to go to trial.

Personal injury law can be complicated, but with a Kentucky attorney on your side, you don’t have to worry about making mistakes that limit your compensation.

Cases a Rhoads & Rhoads Personal Injury Attorney Can Handle

Rhoads & Rhoads handles a variety of legal issues in addition to motor vehicle accidents. One area of expertise involves helping clients secure Social Security disability benefits. Individuals who are disabled can apply to receive Social Security payments, but the process is long, drawn-out, and too often, fruitless – less than one-third of applicants have their initial applications approved, and the ten-year approval rate is just under 50%.

Negligence is a problem everywhere, including in Breckinridge County and the surrounding Western Kentucky areas, such as Ohio County, Hancock County, and Hardin County, Kentucky. Personal injury can look like other drivers causing motor vehicle accidents on Louisville’s city streets, the backroads of Hardin County, the Main St drives in small towns throughout Kentucky, anywhere on the Dixie Hwy, and the busy roads that run through Western Kentucky.

A car accident is certainly not the only kind of accident in Kentucky.

In addition to car accidents, common types of negligence-caused accidents in Kentucky include:

• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Nursing home negligence
• Dog bites and attacks
• Defective products (product liability)
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Medical malpractice (including medical malpractice at doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and residential facilities)
• Workplace injuries
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Premises liability cases (injuries on someone else’s property)
• Wrongful death claims
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Birth injuries
• Public transportation accidents (bus, train, etc.)
• Amusement park accidents (including local fairs and festivals)
• Food poisoning cases
• Assault and battery
• Toxic exposure
• Drowning accidents
• Sports-related injuries

Wherever you were injured in Kentucky, a personal injury lawyer from Rhoads & Rhoads can work with the courts in that county and get you compensation. We practice law because we believe that our clients shouldn’t be alone during the personal injury process. From your free initial consultation to the resolution of your case, Rhoads & Rhoads is on your side.

Contact Rhoads & Rhoads Law Firm in Kentucky today for a free consultation by calling 888-709-9329. We have experience and know how to settle cases whether it be truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, or another kind of accident.

Types of Social Security Disability Benefits

The first, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), is for disabled workers who have paid into the Social Security system while employed. The second, SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is for people meeting certain financial and medical criteria who have limited or no access to income opportunities. While online applications for these benefits have made the process more streamlined, it is still not a simple task. Every mistake made on an applicant’s paperwork ensures delays on top of the already drawn-out process.

The legal team at Rhoads & Rhoads provide skilled, experienced guidance for clients navigating the Social Security labyrinth, making sure applications have all the minutiae addressed and that paperwork gets where it needs to go when it needs to be there.

Residents of Breckinridge County can also count on Rhoads & Rhoads for legal advocacy on your behalf in multiple practice areas, including the following: brain injury, products liability, nursing home negligence, premises liability,  construction and industrial accidents,  medical malpractice, and wrongful death.

Rhoads & Rhoads can also support victims of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination. In the event of a wrongful death, we can stand by you in honor of your lost loved one. We serve clients and provide legal options no matter what kind of negligence caused them to lose money or experience pain and suffering.

Living in Breckinridge County

Breckinridge County, nestled in a comfortable nook in Western Kentucky bordering the Ohio River, also occupies an important part of American history, as the people of the county served as kind and willing hosts for young Abraham Lincoln and his family as they transited the area in 1816. When the Lincolns moved from Knob Creek Farm to settle (temporarily, as it turned out) in present-day Spencer County, Indiana, the family spent time in Hardinsburg as well as Cloverport.

Breckinridge County made headlines for a different reason in 1959 when a B-52 Stratofortress bomber carrying nuclear weapons collided with a tanker aircraft over Hardinsburg. Eight U.S. Air Force members perished, and wreckage scattered throughout the area. Fortunately, the tragedy presented no danger to residents.

Breckinridge County High School has also won the KHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships two (2) times in 1965 and 1995, which is a remarkable achievement. 

These days, people continue to travel through the county, with major roadways like the Dixie Hwy providing easy access to much of Western Kentucky and cities such as Louisville, Frankfort, Bowling Green, Evansville, Lexington, Nashville, and Cincinnati. The Ohio River on the county’s northern border and the Rough River Lake and Dam to the south provide a variety of water recreation options for residents and visitors.

With Breckinridge Memorial Hospital located in Hardinsburg, high-quality schools, and an enviable youth sports program, Breckinridge County is also a great place for families.

You can find great lawyers practicing law in the Breckinridge County area,  including criminal defense attorneys, family law firms and child support lawyers, sexual harassment lawyers, and attorneys who practice personal injury law. Not far from the Brandeis School of Law in Louisville, you’ll find many legal professionals who are credentialed by the Kentucky Bar Association and have completed their juris doctorate (JD). They have years, even decades, of experience in their area.

For family law, criminal defense law, sexual harassment law, and other areas, you will certainly be able to find a great attorney in Breckinridge and beyond. For personal injury law, turn to Rhoads & Rhoads, the leading personal injury law firm in Kentucky. Our clients trust us because we provide the legal support they need.

In an emergency, always call 911.

Fire Departments

Cloverport Fire Department – 270-788-6084

Hardinsburg Fire Department – 270-756-1931

Irvington Fire Department – 270-547-3835

Police/Sheriff Departments

Kentucky State Police – 502-782-1800

Breckinridge County Sheriff – 270-756-2361

Cloverport Police Department – 270-788-3751

Irvington Police Department – 270-668-7576

Hospital

Breckinridge Memorial Hospital – 270-756-7000

Court

Breckinridge County Court – 270-756-2239

Breckinridge County | Personal Injury Lawyer FAQ

Can I sue for pain and suffering in Kentucky?

Yes, you can sue for pain and suffering. Personal injury law allows you to recover compensation for both monetary and non-monetary damages.

After all, accidents like these cause much more than just an increase in commercial transactions like doctor’s appointments, emergency transportation, surgical costs, and medications. They also cause physical pain and suffering.

In wrongful death cases, the accident can also cause mental anguish and unimaginable grief.

The average settlement for pain and suffering after an accident includes compensation for your non-financial losses.

In Kentucky, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is one year from the date of the injury; however, in automobile related cases, the statute of limitations is two (2) years and can be extended in certain instances.  This means that you generally have one year to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties.

However, there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations:

• For car accidents, you have two years from the date of the accident or the last Personal Injury Protection (PIP) payment, whichever is later.
• For medical malpractice cases, you have one year from the date of the malpractice; in rare instances this can be extended to one year from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the injury.
• For product liability cases, you have one year from the date of injury or discovery of injury.
• It is important to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an injury to ensure you don’t miss important deadlines.

What kind of evidence is needed to support a personal injury claim?

Kentucky law firms ask their clients to save as much evidence as possible to support their claims. It is important to save any documents related to your injuries and take photos or videos if possible.

Your personal injury lawyer can guide you through the process of collecting and saving evidence, but these are some of the things you can expect to be asked to keep:

• Pictures and videos from the scene of the accident
• Pictures and videos that document your injuries
• Medical and hospital records from any healthcare provider that evaluates your injuries or recovery
• Medical bills documenting all expenses
• A pain or recovery journal that tracks your symptoms
• Police reports
• Other evidence as instructed by your personal injury attorney

If you are unsure where to start, your lawyer can discuss the collection of evidence and medical records during your free consultation and in follow-up meetings and calls.

What is the role of expert witnesses in personal injury cases?

Injury lawyers will often retain expert witnesses to testify on behalf of their clients. The role of an expert witness is to most effectively explain to the judge, jury, or the other party’s lawyers what happened in the accident and how it has affected you as the accident victim.

For example, let’s say a lawyer from a Louisville firm is representing a client who was injured while driving down Main Street in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. The lawyer will make a strong case about how other drivers’ negligence caused the accident.

This case will be strengthened if the lawyer can retain the services of expert witnesses, potentially an accident reconstructionist, or forensic medical doctor, who can formulate opinions and testify to any of the following:

• What caused the accident
• The relative speed of the vehicles
• The precise angle of the collision
• The sight-distance of the drivers
• How the victim was injured because of the accident
• How the victim’s injuries have affected them
• What the victim can expect in the coming months and years of their life, based on these injuries
• The victim’s future medical needs

Most individuals don’t have access to a deep network of expert witnesses on their own. A personal injury attorney, on the other hand, will know how to find the most qualified and fair expert witnesses to review the case and provide their expertise to the court.

These are some additional examples of how an expert witness can support a Kentucky personal injury case:

• Explain how a defective product caused the injury (products liability)
• Compare a negligent nursing home’s training methods to a high-quality facility’s training requirements for nurses
• Testify about clients’ lifelong injuries following a slip-and-fall
• Demonstrate the failures of a dog owner to properly restrain their aggressive pet according to Kentucky law

How does Kentucky’s “pure comparative fault” rule affect my case?

Kentucky follows a “pure comparative fault” rule in personal injury cases.

This means:

1. You can recover damages even if you’re partially at fault for your injuries.
2. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
3. No threshold of fault would completely bar you from recovery.

For example, if you’re found to be 30% at fault for an accident and your total damages are $100,000, you could still recover $70,000 (70% of the total damages) because the other person or company was 70% at fault. Even if you’re found to be 90% at fault, you could still recover 10% of your damages.

This rule applies in negotiations with insurance companies and in court if your case goes to trial. An experienced personal injury attorney can help argue for a lower percentage of fault on your part, potentially increasing your compensation.

Contact a Breckinridge County Personal Injury Law Firm Today

After an accident in Kentucky, you must understand your legal options. You deserve to work with injury lawyers who are knowledgeable, compassionate, and experienced.

A U.S. News & World Report top-rated law firm, Kentucky-based Rhoads & Rhoads has handled many court cases in Breckinridge County and Hardinsburg. One of the longest cases our law firm has been involved in was in Breckinridge County from a tragic motor vehicle collision that claimed a young man/father’s life through someone else’s negligence. 

Each of our lawyers has built a legal career by supporting people who are dealing with the aftermath of serious accidents. We will give you the expert guidance you need to win or settle cases of appropriate compensation for injuries sustained in accidents involving automobiles, motorcycles, or semi-trucks, worker’s compensation, and Social Security disability as well as representing families in the event of wrongful death.

We understand that these are some of the toughest times our Kentucky clients will go through in their lifetime. From your free initial consultation to the resolution of your case, your personal injury attorney from Rhoads & Rhoads will always be on your side.

When faced with all the disruptions that court cases like these bring to your life, the last thing you should worry about is the competence of your attorneys. With many years of experience and a history of successful representation and civil litigation for the people of western Kentucky, Rhoads & Rhoads is the firm you want on your side.

Call Rhoads & Rhoads Law Firm in Kentucky at 888-709-9329 for a free consultation today. We don’t charge you anything until we’ve successfully won or settled your case. Let us help you during your recovery process.